Yes, you should still write a thank you email after every job interview | Ladders

If checking your email throughout the day stresses you out, you’re not alone. The anxiety-inducing effects of overflowing inboxes is near universally acknowledged at this point, so much so some European countries have even passed laws banning employers from emailing their workers after hours! The potential physiological and mental impact of email has been well documented in recent years; studies show heart rates fluctuate and signs of both physical stress and psychological distress rise when workers check their emails.  

Therein lies the conundrum of email. Like a metaphor for all of modern technology, it simultaneously makes our professional lives easier and more stressful. So, after a lengthy application period and in-depth interview, it’s understandable why only one in four job candidates send a follow-up thank you message after interviews.

Still, while forgoing a thank you email may be understandable, that doesn’t make it the right call. Consider how far you’ll have had to go in the recruitment process to even have to send such a message. From a crop of hundreds (if not thousands) of applicants your resume was chosen, and from there your charm and razor sharp skill set carried you all the way to the final interview, which you aced by the way. By the time a thank you email is even necessary, you’ll have performed about 99% of the hiring dance. Do you really want to ignore the final pirouette? 

It may feel overly formal, and perhaps even superfluous, but you should absolutely still write a thank you email after every job interview. Don’t assume you made enough of an impression during the meeting, and there will be plenty of time to throw formalities aside once you’re hired. The same poll that found only a quarter of interviewees send thank you messages also noted 80% of HR managers consider such emails quite useful while evaluating candidates.

Putting a bow on your job candidacy 

Many job seekers feel awkward expressing gratitude to hiring managers, but writing a thank you email following a job interview may help you feel better about the entire hiring process just as much as it improves your chances of landing the gig. Research published in the scientific journal Psychological Science found that composing thank you notes often benefits the writer just as much as the recipient in terms of wellbeing.

It’s common to feel self-conscious while writing a thank you email, as true gratitude is usually something people tend to keep close to the vest and only bring out for loved ones and longtime friends. Besides that, it’s much easier to radiate thankfulness once you actually know you’ve got the job. Beforehand is a bit harder. 

If it helps, adopt the mindset that you’re writing the follow-up email for you and you alone. The email isn’t about expressing false sentimentality or winning anyone over, but a final summation of why you’re the obvious choice for the job. And you happen to thank the person who interviewed you along the way. 

William Shakespeare, HR Manager

While it’s probably safe to assume William Shakespeare wasn’t referring to thank you emails when he famously wrote “brevity is the soul of wit” at the turn of the 17th century, most HR Managers today would absolutely agree with the legendary author and poet. Your follow-up email after an interview shouldn’t be too long, or you run the risk of losing the reader’s attention. 

What Shakespeare was getting at all those years ago was that sometimes you can say a whole lot more with just a few words than you ever could with half a dozen paragraphs. Via no more than a handful of sentences, a successful thank you email will: 

• Express sincere gratitude to the interviewer for their time and consideration. There’s no reason to gush, but no use in being overly ceremonial either. A simple “I just wanted to say thanks again for taking the time to meet with me this morning” will suffice, for example. The key here is that the message feels authentic. You don’t want it to seem as if ChatGPT wrote the email for you.

• Succinctly highlight one more time why you’re a can’t miss applicant and perfect fit for the role. Perhaps you hit it off with the interviewer regarding one topic in particular, or have an idea on how to improve synergies as soon as you’re hired. This is your last opportunity to remind decisionmakers what you can bring to the table.

• This one may sound a bit redundant but it’s worth emphasizing. Reiterate that you’re still interested in the position. The job in question could be your dream gig, but don’t assume the hiring manager knows that. Candidates pass on opportunities all the time, and interested applicants today are often unavailable come tomorrow. It’s a small gesture, but repeating that your interest in the position is unwavering can help you stand above other candidates.

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